During our deployment to Iraq in 2004 out company, about 150 guys, was located on a FOB (Forward Operating Base). Which just a tiny base with a small number of people.
The small size is significant due to fact that we were so few that the locals were able to quickly pattern us, we had three rifle platoons (about 30 Marines) that would share the bulk of the work. This usually looked like one platoon guarding said FOB, one platoon out doing Marine things, and one platoon rotating back from doing Marine things to refit, eat, wash, sleep, train, or whatever.
As this schedule really only resulted in about 30ish guys out and about at any one time the tempo was kept high. It was also such a small amount that the locals quickly figured out differences between the platoons. And could identify one from another, even though we all looked the same, and shared trucks.
Now after a couple of months we get word back that the locals know which group was special forces on our little FOB. What the @#$%?!? The only time special forces was there was when they passed through. Which platoon was so noticeably better than the others?
Early in the deployment one of the platoons got a replacement Lieutenant, the guy in charge. If I remember correctly the replacement was due to performance issues and he was replaced with the Lieutenant from the Sniper Platoon. The Snipers were a squared away group and part of that was due to their constant training. When this guy showed up on our little FOB, he made his guys train constantly. Everyone trained on the FOB, but there was never enough time to even sleep. We knew that they got less sleep than we did because they trained so often.
So when this platoon went out and did Marine things it was even more obvious through all actions that they were even more professional than anyone else to come out of that FOB. They were the special forces in the eyes of the locals. That stuck with me, even though we did the job daily. Staying on top of your craft is important, training is important, and constantly acting like a professional will make you more professional.
That platoon usually wasn’t messed with. And took the fewest causalities. The impression I got was they strived to be the best not to tout their virtue to the rest of us, or at least that is how the Lieutenant’s motivation appeared. I could be wrong maybe he didn’t want to get fired like the last guy.
Now I don’t know their hearts at the time but after I had heard the following verses, I thought of how they carried themselves. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
So while no one was quoting scripture during this, this group of men was living Biblical principles I was able to learn from. They weren’t going about trying to prove how they were the best to the rest of us. Rather they going to do want they did as good as possible for a higher cause. And it showed, after all I don’t remember everything that happened 20 plus years ago, but this lesson is still fresh in my mind.
I find it interesting too that Biblical lessons are available to see in the world around us. I saw this play out and strived to copy it moving forward, years later reading Colossians I was able to look back and know that it was sound because I had seen it work out.
Now I’m not saying don’t read the word. But I am saying that you can see the world and word line up. And it brings a smile to my face every time I see God working in life and I can say “I see what you did there God”.
-Joe
Outpost 95 